Accra, June 20, GNA - Ten rioters who were arrested in connection with disturbances at the Gbese Mantse Palace during the ceremony to lift the ban on drumming and noisemaking were on Wednesday granted 20 million cedis bail with a surety each. Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court the rioters pleaded not guilty to two counts of intentionally and unlawfully causing damage to the windscreen and head lights of a police vehicle valued at three million cedis.

They were additionally charged for using offensive weapons such as broken bottles, stones clubs and cutlasses. The accused which included a woman, Emelia Neequaye, were Daniel Nii Amah Tagoe and Obodai Torgbor, Daniel Klotey, Ammah Tagoe. The rest are Samuel Pappoe, Otu Commetey, Amos Aful, Isaac Addo and Kofi Kamaru-Deen.

They are to reappear on July 16. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Eric Amoako, on June 6 the Accra South Police Commander, Superintendent Nana Afful led a team of police personnel to provide security coverage at the

ceremonial grounds at Gbese in connection with the lifting of the ban on drumming and noisemaking in the city. On arrival, the police observed that human excreta had been sprinkled all over the Gbese Palace.

DSP Amoako said the assistance of Ghana National Fire Service was sought to clean the place. A few moments later, a faction opposed to the incumbent Gbese Mantse including the accused persons arrived at the grounds and started throwing stones, clubs, broken bottles and human excreta and other missiles at the police. In the process they caused damage to a police vehicle with the registration number GP 1421 belonging to the James Town District Police.

DSP Amoako said it was revealed that Otu Commetey, who was the conservative labourer at the Gbese main toilet allegedly supplied the mob with human excreta. He said police fired tear gas to disperse the rioters to allow for the commencement of the ceremony which was attended by some government officials, the Ga Mantse and some chiefs of Accra. He said the police later arrested the accused persons and when Samuel Pappoe was searched before being placed in custody, five stones and a kitchen knife were found on him.